USA: Somerset Arrives in Philadelphia, Readies for Commissioning

The U.S. Navy’s newest amphibious transport dock ship, Pre-commissioning Unit Somerset (LPD 25) arrived at its commissioning site of Philadelphia, on February 21 in preparation for its commissioning ceremony, scheduled for March 1.

During the port visit, Somerset sailors are scheduled to participate in several community outreach events including working with the Boys and Girls Club and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

“Every Sailor on board has achieved and encountered many challenges bringing this ship to life,” said Somerset’s Command Master Chief Larry Lynch. “The commissioning week is giving them an opportunity to show their family, friends, the city of Philadelphia, and especially the family of the United Flight 93 crew and passengers, the amount hard work they have put into this ship.”

The third of the three U.S. ships named in honor of the victims and first responders of the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, Somerset will join USS New York (LPD 21) and USS Arlington (LPD 24) which are already a part of the Navy’s combat force.
The March 1 commissioning ceremony is a formal ceremony and time-honored tradition that places a warship in active service as a member of the Navy’s operational fleet. Upon formal commissioning USS Somerset (LPD 25) will proceed to its homeport of San Diego.

SAN ANTONIO- CLASS LPD SPECIFICATIONS
Length	208 m
Beam	32 m
Draught	7.0 m full load
Displacement	24,900 t
Speed	In excess of 22 knots
Complement	Crew: 28 officers, and 333 enlisted
Type	amphibious transport dock
Status	Inactive, about to be commissioned

Press Release, February 24, 2014, Image: US Navy